Greetings!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
We would like to invite our wonderful moms and special caregivers in your child’s life to join us for a Mother’s Day celebration on Thursday, May 11, anytime between 4:30-5:30 PM as you pick up your child. We will enjoy a build-an-ice cream-sundae-bar at the grassy area (by the cul-de-sac). In the event of inclement weather, Monday, May 15, will be our back-up-day. Bring a picnic blanket & join us!
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CONGRATULATIONS, MS ANNA
Ms. Anna (older infant room teacher) and husband Tom welcomed Lev James on Friday, April 14. Lev arrived at 7lb, 14oz and was 21 inches long, and is doing wonderful at home!
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TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
May 8-12 is Teacher Appreciation Week. We will celebrate our wonderful teachers with a staff appreciation luncheon on Tuesday, May 9, and a breakfast on Friday May 12--please check Daily Connect for a SignUpGenius link to bring in a treat for our staff. We will also have cards available for your child/ren to complete and add to our appreciation wall in the hallway.
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SPRING KID DANCE RECITAL
Join us for our annual spring dance recital on Wednesday, May 10, at 5 PM in the Edinborough Park Theater.
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STILL ACCEPTING SHOE DONATIONS
We will accept used & outgrown shoes through Friday, May 5. The shoes will be sent via one of our EFC families to Guatemala where they will be donated to children and families in need. Please drop your shoes off in the staff lounge area by May 5. Thank you!
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SPRING CONFERENCES
We will be holding parent/teacher conferences at during the last two weeks of May. Conferences will be 20 minutes in length and will be held either virtually or in person. We hold conferences twice a year to keep you informed on your child’s progress as well as to discuss any questions that you may have about our program. To facilitate this process, please complete the Parent Conference questionnaire and return it to your child’s teacher before your conference. The questionnaires will be available in early May. We look forward to seeing you and working with you to help your child succeed.
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EFC CLOSED—STAFF INSERVICE
In our commitment to provide time and opportunities for staff to grow professionally, EFC will be closed on Friday, May 26, for a staff development day. EFC is also closed on Monday, May 29, for Memorial Day. We wish you a fun & safe holiday weekend!
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SUMMER PROGRAM
Our summer program will begin on Monday, June 12. If you are changing your schedule for the summer, please keep in mind that we require a two week notice for any changes.
We will once again offer summer soccer classes through RevSports. Registrations will be available in early May, and classes will start the week of June 12.
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SUMMER SHOES & SUNSCREEN REMINDER
As the weather warms up, please make sure your child comes to school in closed toed & closed heel shoes for safe outdoor activities. We know that sandals are fun to wear but would appreciate appropriate shoes while at the center. Flip flops are not allowed at EFC.
Please also bring in a bottle of non-aerosol sunscreen (labeled with your child’s first & last name) for your child since we will be going outside more frequently as it warms up. We look forward to a fun outdoor season!!
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SESAME SALMON BOWLS
From the NYTimes Kid-Friendly Recipes:
“This one-pot meal, which is inspired by chirashi, or Japanese rice and raw fishbowls, features a savory vinegared rice that’s typically served with sushi. Traditionally, the rice is cooked first, then mixed with vinegar, but here, the rice is cooked in vinegar-seasoned water to eliminate a step. The result is sticky rice that’s tangy and sweet, and a perfect bed for fatty salmon. The salmon is added toward the end to steam directly on top of the rice for an easy one-pan meal. Packaged coleslaw is a time saver, eliminating extra knife work. Make a double batch of the zesty dressing for drizzling over roasted vegetables or green leafy salads the next day.”
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“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
– Ken Blanchard
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Each year, we invite you to provide feedback on your family’s experience with our program through our Family Survey. It is that time of year again! While our hope is that you are able to communicate regularly with your directors and your child(ren)’s teachers—as well as with the EFC administration—about your family’s needs and expectations, the survey offers a more formal means for you to share specific comments and feedback.
In the survey, we ask about your child’s experiences with his or her teachers and the curriculum, how communication is going for you, whether your expectations for your child and family are being met, and if there is anything else you would like to share with us.
Our goal is to partner with you in this special time of life. It is extremely valuable for us to understand how things are going for you and to learn a bit more about your family (including any family or cultural traditions you’d like to share at your center). We invite you to fill out the survey at the link below by 5/15.
We also wanted to take this opportunity to share bios of the EFC Administration—the team that will receive your feedback—in case you aren’t familiar with us yet!
DeeAnn Besch, VP of Operations
DeeAnn joined Especially for Children in 2007 and has spent her career in early childhood. DeeAnn works to support all of our directors in their roles through her deep knowledge of the field. She ensures EFC programs meet not only licensing standards but NAEYC accreditation standards and creates opportunities for teaching staff to grow and develop. She has dedicated her career to high quality, developmentally-appropriate programs that help children grow and thrive.
Alli Zomer, Director of Operations
Alli works closely with DeeAnn in supporting directors, teaching staff, and all aspects of our center’s operations. She especially enjoys helping teachers and managers grow through meaningful professional development opportunities. Alli is part of the “original” EFC family—a daughter of EFC founders Priscilla and Steve Williams. These days you will find her preparing our new center in SW Minneapolis for its May opening!
Angie Williams, Director of Marketing and Finance
Angie joined EFC in 2016 and works to support EFC centers and the organization in the areas of marketing/communications (she prefers newsletter articles to Covid letters!), financial management, and facilities. She is also a daughter of Priscilla and Steve, and she and Alli have had the pleasure (in their younger years) of mowing EFC lawns, preparing meals, and, of course, spending time in classrooms with children!
We appreciate the opportunity to support your family at EFC.
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
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Especially for Children
3300 Edinborough Way
Edina MN 55435
(952) 835-0505
Center Director
Anna Wilson
Center Assistant Director
Laura Garcia-LaPanta
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EFC IS A BEST OF EDINA FINALIST!
We are excited to share that EFC is a finalist for Best Preschool 2023. We thank you so much for your support! |
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